OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of Jin's three-needle therapy combined with game therapy on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: Sixty children with ASD were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 30 cases in each. The children in the observation group received Jin's three-needle therapy combined with game therapy. The acupoints used in Jin's three-needle therapy included Zhisanzhen, Niesanzhen, Sishenzhen and Naosanzhen, and matches acupoints with syndromes. The acupoints included Shenting (GV24), Naohu (GV17) and bilateral Benshen (GB13), Naokong (GB19), Xinshu (BL15), Zusanli (ST36), etc. The needles were retained for 1 h for scalp acupuncture and not retained for body acupuncture. Game therapy included social interaction, music and dance, language stimulation, etc. The children in the control group were treated with the same game therapy in the observation group. Treatments were administered once daily, five times a week, with a three-month course considered as one treatment cycle, and a total of two cycles were provided. The scores of childhood autism rating scale (CARS), autism behavior scale (ABC) and 0-6-year-old Children's neuropsychological development assessment scale (children's psychological scale) were compared between the two groups before treatment and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. RESULTS: After 3 and 6 months of treatment, the CARS and ABC scores of both groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.01). After 6 months of treatment, the CARS and ABC scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). After 3 and 6 months of treatment, the scores of gross motor, fine motor, adaptive ability, language, and social behaviors in both groups were higher than those before treatment (P<0.01). After 3 months of treatment, the observation group showed a greater improvement in gross motor, fine motor, adaptive ability, and social behaviors compared to the control group (P<0.05). After 6 months of treatment, the observation group showed a greater improvement in gross motor, fine motor, adaptive ability, language, and social behaviors compared to the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Jin's three-needle therapy combined with game therapy is an effective method for the treatment of ASD, which shows more obvious advantages than simple game therapy in promoting the improvement of children's ability and reducing related behavior.
Humans ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/psychology* ; Male ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Female ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Play Therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy